Vending machine



1964 o. B. DAVIS 3,144,285

VENDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 28, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR @suzr154N404 flay/s A TTORNE 6 Aug. 11, 1964 o. B. DAVIS VENDING MACHINE 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 28, 1961 INVENTOR flsur @m-sam 4V S BYATTORNEK) 1954 o. B. DAVIS 3,144,285

VENDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 28, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR 05am-Bdksdd/. 04WS A TTORNE $6 g- 11, 1964 0. B. DAVIS 3,144,285

VENDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 28, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 BY fi 1w Z I M /ZWATTURNE Y5 United States Patent 3,144,285 VENDING MACHINE Oscar BarsachDavis, London, England, assignor to H.V. Developments Limited, London,England Filed Sept. 28, 1961, Ser. No. 141,355 Claims priority,application Great Britain Sept. 29, 1360 14 Claims. (Cl. 31'297.1)

This invention relates to improvements in vending machines which arecoin-controlled and which include a display device whereby a particulararticle may be selected prior to the coin insertion.

The present invention is particularly, but not exclusively, concernedwith a book vending machine and has for an object the provision of avending machine in which the books are displayed on a movable device sothat a selected book can be brought to a vending position from which thebook can be removed after operation of a coincontrolled mechanism.

In its broadest aspect, the invention provides a coincontrolled vendingmachine comprising a movable display device, such as a turntable,supporting a plurality of objects, such as books, and movable by anoperator to bring a selected object to a vending position, retainingmeans normally preventing the removal of said objects from the displaydevice, and a coin-controlled mechanism which upon actuation by a coinrenders the retaining means inoperative at said vending position topermit the removal of the selected object at said position from thedisplay device.

In the preferred embodiment, the objects comprise books which aresupported vertically on the turntable and are retained thereon by afixed flange projecting over the back of the books to prevent theirwithdrawal from the supporting means on the turntable. A vending slot orgap is provided in the flange and the slot is normally closed by acoin-controlled plate.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a book vending machine in accordance with theinvention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional elevation of the machine taken Q on the line 2-2of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2showing the coin-controlled mechanism in its locked position;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view of part of the mechanism of FIGURE 3showing the actuation of the parts in response to the insertion of acoin;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 but showing the coin-controlledmechanism in its vending position whereby a book can be removed from themachine;

FIGURE 6 is a further view of the coin-controlled mechanism showing theparts in a safety position just prior to their return to the lockedposition as shown in FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of one of the book supports as mounted onthe rotatable book display section of the machine. I

Referring now to the drawings and in particular to FIGURES 1 and 2 itwill be seen that the preferred embodiment comprises a book vendingmachine which is particularly intended for use in hotels and like publicplaces. The machine comprises a fixed base section 10, a movable displaydevice section 11 which carries the books on sale, and a coin-controlledmechanism 12 which upon actuation locks the display section 11 againstrotation and permits the removal therefrom of a selected book.

The fixed base section is circular in plan view as will be seen fromFIGURE 1 and is mounted on legs or may be provided with a base unit 13which could act as 3,144,285 Patented Aug. 11, 1964 a store foradditional books. The base section 10 is provided with a lower circularhorizontal plate 14 which carries a centrally positioned hollow column15 around which the display section 11 is rotatably supported. The lowerhorizontal plate 14 is provided with a fixed cam track 16 on its uppersurface, the purpose and shape of which will be described hereinafter.The lower plate 14 is also provided with an annular wall 17 whichextends upwardly towards the display section 11 to form a chamber 18 forreceiving the lower parts of the book supports of the display section.The base section also includes an upper circular horizontal plate 19which is spaced from the lower plate 14 (see FIGURE 2) and is of smallerdiameter. The periphery of this plate overlaps the backs of the books inthe display section 11 as will be hereinafter described and thereby actsas a retaining device to prevent the unauthorised removal of the books.

The book display section 11 is rotatably mounted for movement in eitherdirection on the central column 15 of the base section 10 between itslower plate 14 and its upper plate 19. This display section 11 comprisesa cir cular plate 20 on which are mounted a plurality, for example, 36vertical book supports. Each support comprises a vertical rod 21 theupper end of which extends closely to the undersurface of the topcircular plate 19. Each rod 21 is pivotally mounted in the circularplate 20 at a predetermined radial distance from the central column 15.The rods 21 are equally spaced about the plate 20 and as previouslymentioned they are located so that they are within the periphery of thecircular plate 19 of the fixed base section 1.0. A radially extending,substantially rectangular, plate 22 is welded to each rod and a verticalplate 23 of substantially triangular shape is secured to the rectangularplate 22 with its side 24 extending parallel but spaced from thesupporting rod 21. In use a book A is opened somewhere about its middleand is then slid downwardly about the vertical plate 23 with its 1 backbetween the edge 24 of the plate and the supporting of circular shapewhich is located behind the plurality of the vertical supporting rods 21and forms with the central column 15 a chamber 27 in which is locatedthe coincontrolled mechanism 12 which will be hereinafter described.

The periphery of the circular plate 20 is provided with a number ofradial extensions 28 to which a circular tube 29 is attached for use bythe operator to rotate the display section 11 in either direction forthe selection of a particular book.

The lower end 30 of each rotatable rod 21 is formed with a bearing 31located in the circular plate 20. Each rod 21 also carries a bush 32seating on the upper surface of the plate 20 so as to position the booksupport correctly in the display section. The end 30 of the rod isdrilled axially and fixedly receives a cranked rod 33 on the lower endof which is mounted a nylon roller 34 adapted to engage within the camtrack 16 on the lower plate 14 of the fixed base 10. The cranked rods 33are supported around the periphery of a plate 35 forming part of theturntable 36 of the rotatable display section.

The cam track 16 is shown more clearly in FIGURE 1 and it will be seenthat it comprises two halves, each half being located eccentricallyabout the central column 15 of the machine. At the beginning 37 of eachtrack section the rollers 34 are located at their greatest radialdistance from the centre of the column 15. The track section thengradually curves inwardly to its shortest radial distance at theposition indicated by the reference 38. At this point there is a shortsection 39 which leads to the beginning of the other half of the camtrack 16. During rotation of the display device the movement of therollers 34 in the cam track 16 will slowly rotate the corresponding booksupports through the rods 21. The effect is to space the book supportswithout jamming and at the two selected diametrically spaced points 37the books will be turned through an angle to provide an open viewingposition which is indicated in FIGURE 1 by reference 40. At thesepositions the outer sides of a book together with an inspection of thepages can be made. In the embodiment disclosed two viewing positionshave been shown but it will be appreciated that only one viewingposition need be provided and this can be obtained by suitable design ofthe cam track 16.

The viewing position 40 is also utilized as a vending position. To thisend the upper circular plate 19 of the fixed base section 10 is cut awayto provide a slot 41 so as to allow the upward release of a selectedbook from its book support. Under normal operating conditions the slot41 is closed by a movable plate 42 which is coloured for identificationand which is automatically movable to release the book upon actuation ofthe coin-controlled mechanism as will be described. The plate 42 ismounted on a rotatable control shaft 43 and it is also provided with aplate 44 which extends from it and is adapted to move beneath a coinslot 45 to prevent the insertion of a coin therein when the movableplate 42 has been moved to its inoperative or book release position. Theshaft 43 on which the plate 42 is mounted extends through the fixedupper plate 19 of the base section 10 and is provided with a handle 46for manual resetting operation as will be hereinafter described. Thelower end of the shaft 43 is rotatably mounted in a fixed plate 19Aattached to the fixed column 15.

The rotary movement of the display section 11 is given a step by stepmotion by providing the circular plate 20 with a plurality of fixed stoppins 47 corresponding to the number of book supports. It will be seen byreference to the drawings that a pin 47 is located radially oppositeeach of the vertical support rods 21. The pins 47 are located justwithin the screen 26 and the gap between adjacent pins is successivelyengaged by a roller 48 carried at one end of a bell crank lever 49 whichis pivoted at 50 on the plate 19A and has its other arm urged by aspring 51 so as to maintain the roller 48 in engagement with a pair ofadjacent pins 47. The pin 52 of the roller 48 extends through a slot 53(see FIG- URES 3 to 6) of a lever 54 which is fixedly secured to thecontrol shaft 43. The slot 53 has a circumferential portion 55 and aradial portion 56 and under normal conditions the pin 52 is mountedopposite the radial section 56 so that as the display section is rotatedthe pin can move into the radial section 56 to allow the roller 48 toclick over a pin 47 into the next adjacent space. The position is shownin FIGURE 3 of the drawings and it will be appreciated that when thecontrol shaft 43 is rotated clockwise the lever 54 is also rotatedthereby to move the pin 52 of the roller 48 into the circumferentialsection 55 of the slot 53. This position is shown in FIG- URE 5 of thedrawings and it will be appreciated that the display device is nowlocked in a predetermined position as the roller 48 cannot move radiallyinwardly. The position shown in FIGURE 5 is the vending position as thedisplay device is locked and the preselected book is now located in thevending position 40 below the slot 41. At the same time, the rotation ofthe shaft 43 has moved the plate 42 away from the slot 41 (see FIGURE 5)so that the book can be removed upwardly through the slot 41.

The unauthorised rotation of the shaft 43 is prevented by a pawl 57which is pivoted at 58- on the plate 19A and is urged by a spring 59 toengage a notch 60 in a plate 61 fixedly secured to the shaft 43. Akeeper plate 62 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 43 and has a pin 63which is connected by a tension spring 64 with a pin 65 on the plate 61.

When a coin is inserted through the slot 45 in the upper plate 19 thecoin-controlled mechanism of any suitable construction (not shown inorder to avoid complication of the drawing) energises momentarily acircuit containing solenoid 66 which immediately pivots the pawl 57abouts its pivot 58 away from the plate 61. This movement is shown inFIGURE 4 of the drawings and as the pawl moves outwardly the spring 64immediately urges the keeper plate 62 into a position against the pin 65so that as the pawl 57 returns upon de-energisation of solenoid 66 itnow engages the outer edge of the keeper plate 62. This movement unlocksthe shaft 43 which is now automatically rotated clockwise from theposition shown in FIGURES 3 and 4 to the position shown in FIGURE 5. Asthis movement occurs the keeper plate 62 is also moved clockwise by thepin 65 on plate 61 so that the nose of the pawl 57 slides off keeperplate 62 and engages the section 67 of the notched plate 61. Theautomatic rotation of the shaft 43 is obtained by means of a tensionspring 73 which is connected between plate 42 and top plate 19 to urgeplate 19 and therefore shaft 43 in a clockwise direction.

In order to reset the machine after removal of a book the operatormanually rotates the shaft 43 anti-clockwise by handle 46 until the pawl57 engages in the notch 60 of the plate 61. At this position the plate42 has now closed the slot 41 and the shaft 43 cannot be rotated torelease a further book without energisation of solenoid 66 by theinsertion of a coin.

It is, however, possible that an operator may be able to reposition thedisplay section 11 just prior to the insertion of the nose of the pawl57 in the notch 60 as it will be appreciated that the pin 52 of theroller 48 has at this time practically entered the radial section 56 ofthe slot 53. The machine is, therefore, provided with a safety device inthe form of a second notch 68 which is provided on the plate 61 betweenthe notch 60 and the surface 67. As the operator begins to reset themachine the nose of the pawl 57 engages with the notch 68 and in thisposition the plate 42 has already half covered the slot 41. In otherwords, if the operator manually returns the shaft 43 to a position whichwill allow repositioning of the display device it will be subsequentlyimpossible to return the shaft 43 manually to a position in which theslot 41 is sufliciently open to allow the removal of a second book. Thetop plate 19 of the machine is preferably formed in two semi-circularsections provided with hinges 70 so that one half may be pivoted on tothe other half to provide for reloading of the machine and the removalof inserted money. The pivoted section is, of course, provided with alock.

The operation of the machine is as follows:

(1) The operator must first manually reset the machine as the previousoperator will have left the machine in the vending position as shown inFIGURE 5. The operator therefore rotates handle 46 anti-clockwise tobring the mechanism into the position shown in FIGURE 3.

(2) The operator now rotates the display device until he selected bookis located under the coloured plate 42 in the vending position.

(3) The operator now inserts his coin which automatically unlocks shaft43 and allows the spring 73 to rotate the shaft clockwise. This movementlocks the display device in position and also moves plate 42 to allowthe release of the selected book.

It will be appreciated that the invention provides a very robust,compact and easily operable machine. Although the machine has beendescribed with 36 book supports this is, of course, only given by way ofexample and smaller or larger machines can be made to suit requirements.

I claim:

1. A coin-controlled vending machine comprising a supporting means, amovable member rotatably mounted on the supporting means and on which aplurality of objects are displayed, said movable member being movable byan operator to bring a selected object to a vending position, aplurality of pivotable supports vertically disposed around the peripheryof said movable member to support said objects on said movable member,cam means disposed below said movable member, each of said plurality ofpivotable supports having a portion engaging said cam means so that whensaid movable member is moved said plurality of pivotable supports movewith respect to said movable member to display said objects at one ormore predetermined positions, a plate member located above said supportsso as to prevent the removal of said objects therefrom, said platemember having a slot formed therein at said vending position so thatsaid selected object can be removed therethrough, retaining meansnormally closing said slot to prevent removal of said selected object,and a coin-operated mechanism operatively connected to said retainingmeans which upon actuation by a coin renders said retaining meansinoperative at said vending position to permit the removal of theselected object.

2. A vending machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said supportsinclude a plurality of vertical rods equally spaced circumferentially ofthe movable member, a horizontally extending plate carried by each ofsaid rods to support the object, and a vertically extending plateprojecting from each horizontal plate in a direction substantiallyparallel to the vertical rod to retain the object on the horizontallyextending plate.

3. A vending machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein resilient means isprovided in cooperation with the vertically extending plate to retainthe object in position on the horizontally extending plate.

4. A vending machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the supporting meansincludes a stationary base portion and the cam means includes a camtrack formed in the stationary supporting base portion, said verticalrods being rotatably mounted in the movable member and extendingtherethrough and having lower ends terminating in, a cranked portion androllers on said cranked portions engaging the cam trac 5. A vendingmachine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the retaining means comprises amovable plate, a rotatable manually operable shaft on which said movableplate is mounted and locking means operatively associated with saidshaft for preventing the rotation thereof without the operation of thecoin-controlled mechanism.

' 6. A vending machine as claimed in claim 5 wherein the movable memberis formed with a plurality of pins, each pin corresponding to one ofsaid supports, and a positioning means engaging a pair of adjacent pinsto provide a step-by-step movement of said movable member.

7. A vending machine as claimed in claim 6, wherein the positioningmeans includes a spring-urged roller having a supporting pin which isnormally capable of radial movement to permit rotation of the movablemember.

8. A vending machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein the pin of thepositioning roller is movable in a slot formed in a plate secured to themanually operable shaft, said slot having a radial portion and acircumferential portion to lock the movable member in a predeterminedposition upon rotation of the slotted plate by the manually operableshaft.

9. A vending machine as claimed in claim 8, wherein the manuallyoperable shaft is provided with a notched plate and a spring-urged pawlis provided to engage the notch to prevent rotation of the manuallyoperable shaft.

10. A vending machine as claimed in claim 9, wherein the spring-urgedpawl is released from said notch by said coin-controlled mechanism whichcomprises a solenoid and an energizing circuit therefor.

11. A vending machine as claimed in claim 10, wherein a keeper plate isrotatably mounted on the manually operable shaft and a spring isconnected to the notched plate, said keeper plate engaging said pawlupon energization of the coin-controlled mechanism so as to permitrotation of the manually operable shaft.

12. A vending machine as claimed in claim 11, wherein rotation of themanually operable shaft releases the spring-urged pawl to permit thepawl to engage an inoperative surface on said notched plate.

13. A vending machine as claimed in claim 12, wherein the notched plateis provided with a second notch for initial engagement by thespring-urged pawl upon return of the manually operable shaft to itsnormal position.

14. A vending machine as claimed in claim 13, wherein the cam trackextends around the movable member eccentrically with respect to'the axisof rotation thereof whereby rotation of the turntable in eitherdirection moves the rollers in said cam track to rotate the supportsabout their axes.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS988,297 Barrow et al. Apr. 4, 1911 1,010,966 Sielaff Dec. 5, 19111,027,499 Osborne May 28, 1912 1,691,998 Smith Nov. 20, 1928 2,062,802Walker Dec. 1, 1936 2,332,845 Ducarpe Oct. 26, 1943 2,809,083 GoodyearOct. 8, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 5,179 Great Britain Mar. 2, 1904

1. A COIN-CONTROLLED VENDING MACHINE COMPRISING A SUPPORTING MEANS, AMOVABLE MEMBER ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON THE SUPPORTING MEANS AND ON WHICH APLURALITY OF OBJECTS ARE DISPLAYED, SAID MOVABLE MEMBER BEING MOVABLE BYAN OPERATOR TO BRING A SELECTED OBJECT TO A VENDING POSITION, APLURALITY OF PIVOTABLE SUPPORTS VERTICALLY DISPOSED AROUND THE PERIPHERYOF SAID MOVABLE MEMBER TO SUPPORT SAID OBJECTS ON SAID MOVABLE MEMBER,CAM MEANS DISPOSED BELOW SAID MOVABLE MEMBER, EACH OF SAID PLURALITY OFPIVOTABLE SUPPORTS HAVING A PORTION ENGAGING SAID CAM MEANS SO THAT WHENSAID MOVABLE MEMBER IS MOVED SAID PLURALITY OF PIVOTABLE SUPPORTS MOVEWITH RESPECT TO SAID MOVABLE MEMBER TO DISPLAY SAID OBJECTS AT ONE ORMORE PREDETERMINED POSITIONS, A PLATE MEMBER LOCATED ABOVE SAID SUPPORTSSO AS TO PREVENT THE REMOVAL OF SAID OBJECTS THEREFROM, SAID PLATEMEMBER HAVING A SLOT FORMED THEREIN AT SAID VENDING POSITION SO THATSAID SELECTED OBJECT CAN BE REMOVED THERETHROUGH, RETAINING MEANSNORMALLY CLOSING SAID SLOT TO PREVENT REMOVAL OF SAID SELECTED OBJECT,AND A COIN-OPERATED MECHANISM OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID RETAININGMEANS WHICH UPON ACTUATION BY A COIN RENDERS SAID RETAINING MEANSINOPERATIVE AT SAID VENDING POSITION TO PERMIT THE REMOVAL OF THESELECTED OBJECT.